HENRY — A City Council committee meeting sometimes grew heated Thursday as officials discussed a complaint alleging possible zoning violations by a resident who has previously claimed harassment by the city.

Dale Marliere, 911 Richards St., came armed with a videocamera to record the proceedings of a zoning and planning committee meeting called to consider a complaint filed by an uncle about dormer windows and a wood privacy fence on the property.

Marliere, who participates in demolition derbies, had previously alleged selective enforcement in an incident early last year, when then-police Chief Bill Calbow and Sgt. John Williamson did a warrantless, videotaped search of the property for possible code violations. No citations were ever issued.

Marliere objected Thursday that he had known nothing about the latest complaint or the meeting until learning by word-of-mouth. He denied any violations and protested the lack of notification.

“A little birdie told me that you were going to have this secret meeting, and that Dave Nauman had filed a complaint against me,” Marliere said.

Nauman, who lives in Magnolia but owns rental property in Henry, was not at the meeting and could not be reached Friday. But committee members confirmed that he had filed a complaint.

“This is not about Dave Nauman,” said Chairman Shawn Carr. “This is just our job to do the complaints.”

Carr also disputed the “secret meeting” claim, saying a notice had been posted at City Hall. A notice also had been emailed to the Journal Star under terms of Illinois Open Meetings Act requirements.

But Ione Glatz, a former council member who follows city business and attended the meeting, pointed out the agenda simply listed “Zoning Permit Violation” without any reference to who or where. Marliere deserved at least the courtesy of notification, she suggested.

When Carr told her to complain to the city clerk, Glatz replied, “Bottom line — chairman’s responsibility.”

Few specifics about the complaint were discussed. Marliere said he had not seen it, and the Journal Star filed a Freedom of Information request for it.

Committee members said the matter would be forwarded to the city’s appointed Zoning and Planning Board of Appeals for further investigation.

“All we’re going to do is present this to them and see what they have to say,” said new council appointee Ed Karls.

Carr initially told Marliere that he could not videotape the meeting, then reversed himself after a call to the city attorney. Marliere said later that he plans to start recording all council meetings and posting them online.

“I’m going to make these people accountable,” he said.

Page 2 of 2 - Gary L. Smith can be reached at (800) 516-0389 or glsmith@mtco.com. Read his Northern Circuit blog at pjstar.com.